Thermometer holder



Aug. 5 1952 c. o. BROWN Er A1. 2,605,987

THERMOMETER HOLDER Filed Nov. 16, 1948 Aug. 5, 1952 c. o. BROWN Er nu. 2,605,987

THERMOMETER HOLDER Filed Nov. 16, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 IN VEN T0125.

m mw@ ATI'URN EYS fatentecl ug. 5,1952

UNITED STATES TPA'ilfEI-lilf'i-l-l QFFIICE Y.

` ases-$87' THERMOMETERLER Y Charles .Otis Brown andiEltih MarielBw'iu,

rI|`resrV1o,-'Galivi2 i Application November 16;'1948;sefaileeosts This invention relates to a thermometer, and

more particularl'yto a holder for supporting. a

thermometer against a heat-exchange surface,

such as that employed in a refrigerator 'evaporator.

The object of 'the invention is to .providea `holder for supportingta thermometer againsta heat-'exchange surface, such' as v.a :refrigerator evaporator, in order to adaptthe' thermometer for 'quick and accurate temperature' vmeasurements.

Another object vof the invention -is to 'provide a 'refrigerator thermometer holder adjustable as to length which comprises a plurality of sections telescopicaliy adjustable whereby the holder can bev adjusted' to firmly engage supporting Vabutments lto retain the vholderl in position.

A furth'erfobject of the invention is to provide a refrigerator thermometer lholder which is 'eX- tremely 'simple andinexpenfsve to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will-be apparent during the course 'ofzthe following description.

In the: accompanying drawings Aforming apart lo'fxthis application, and'in which like numerals are Aemployed` to designate like parts throughout l the same:

Figure'i is a side' elevational vieweoi;` the lthermometer holder inaextended position,v according to the "present invention;

Figure 2is-airont elevational view of thefthermorneterholder in extended position with .parts broken away andin section;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of the member vof- Figureiattached to the thermorneterholder; n A

Figure 10 is a fragmentary `front elevational view of a refrigerator illustrating the holder supporting a thermometer Vin'theevaporator thereof ;y

Figure l1 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line l l-ll of Figurefl-O.V

Referring in detail toV Figures 1 to-B of the drawings, the thermometer holder is preferably 'fabricated'o brass tubing and comprises a first j dial'netexislightly less 'thanfthat of theseoti -sc'i that the section Z'S'cafn telescope for a portion arcuate-end wallzl eurvedlto defiiieafscketl-fuor l'rr'iometer-Y''l2. AMA second tubular-section 23A` has a "12% For: releasably flocking the .thirdzsection- 31 l1 in relative: adjustedti position, a :manually-.operabla Le'shaped. clamping :lever for lcaltch: '32 'lis pivotally connected' tocthe-secondfs'ection 23:?bymeahs1of a the clampingzrlever' 32ii'simountedeforffnet/ement into and outl *of :registry with: `onewof`Y the-spaced openings@in-therthird se'ction'sifand for manually biasing the clamping lever32 ,into'ierrgage'- l ment withone'of :the openingszf; aspring :36 is circuirrposed on-the Ypinta and-.yconnectedcto:fthe

Forguiding the third 'sectionS-I inv the-.second section-123 and-for preventing the vseotioiglll :from turning or-rotatingrejlative :toithe secoiidcsect'ion 23, a longitudinally-extending slotzfSl'ffi-s termed ,A grlindrital-shankfor,fbarfse-hasenanreeer 'slightly less than-1-thediameter of'theethirdi-sec- "or'biasingthefshank l? out-of the third usection 3l.

-- For-l guiding .theshanll;` :21e yaI-idwfor preventing the shank from turning or rotating relative to the third section 3|, a longitudinally-extending slot 4| is formed in the third section 3| for receiving a stud 42 which projects from the exterior surface of the shank 39. The shank 39 is also provided with a longitudinally-extending groove 43 forV receiving therein the tip of the clamping lever 32 when the thermometer holder is in its collapsed position, Figure 6.

In certain instances it may be necessary to extend the length of the thermometer holder be,- yond that permitted by the three telescoping sections 20, 23 and 3|, and the shank 39. Therefore, the outer end of the shank 39 is provided with an internally-threaded bore 44 for receiving an externally-threaded barrelv 46, Figures '1, 8 and 9. The barrel 46 is of the same diameter as the shank 49 and telescopically receives a rod 41 therein, the rod 41 vhaving an arcuate socket 54 for at times receiving the thermometer 22 therein. A coil spring 48 is positioned Within the barrel 46 for normally biasing the rod 41 out of the open end of the barrel 45. For guiding the rod 41 in the barrel 46 and for preventing rotation of the rod 41 relative to the barrel 46, a

. longitudinally-extending slot 49 is formed in the Vbarrel 46 for slidably receiving a stud 50 that projects from the rod 41.

The above-described holder is particularly useful for holding a, thermometer 22 in any position or spot in a freezer or evaporator of a refrigerator 52 to determine true temperatures as in checking for certain refrigeration failures. In Figures and 11, with the evaporator door 55 open, the holder is shown positioned below a shaft 53 in the evaporator with the sections thereof in extended position, wherein the shank 39 abuts one side of the evaporator 5|, while the thermometer abuts the opposite side of the refrigerator and is received within the socket 2| of the first section 20. The thermometer holder can be used with evaporators of various size because of the telescopic arrangementof the sections, together with the provision of` the clampinglevers for locking the sections in their adjusted positions. In theevent that ther thermometer 22 is to be held on the bottom of the evaporator 52,.the smaller barrel Vand rod assembly of Figures'i, 8 and 9 may be used alone,

whereby the stem of the barrel 4B abuts the bottom of the shelf 53, and thermometer 22 is positioned at the bottom of the evaporator and snugly received by the socket 54 in the rod 41.

' If the freezer or evaporator is exceptionally wide,

the barrel and rod assembly of Figures 7 and 8 can be attachedto the holder of Figures 1 to 6, as shown in Figure 9.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. We claim:-

1. In a thermometer holder, a iirst tubular sectio'n4 provided with an arcuate en d walljto define a socket in one end for receiving a portion of said thermometer; a second tubular section havf' of spaced openings in said second section, a manually operable clamping lever having an L shape pivotally mounted for movement into and out of said openings for locking said section in its adjusted positions, a pair of lugs projecting from said rst section, a pin pivotally connecting said lever to said pair of lugs, resilient means embodyingv a spring circumposed on said pin for normally biasing said clamping lever into engagement with one of said openings, a third tubular section having less diameter than said second section telescopically arranged within said second section, manually operable means embodying a lever for releasably locking said third section in its adjusted positions, means for preventing relative rotation of said third section within said second section, a shank telescopically arranged within said third section, means for preventing rotation of said shank relative to said third section, and a coil spring positioned in said third section for normally urging said shank out of said third section.

2. In a thermometer holder, a iirst tubular section provided With an arcuate end wall te define a socket in one end for receiving a portion of said thermometer, a second tubular section having a diameter slightly less than said first section telescopically arranged within said rst section, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said first section, a stud projecting from said second section and .arranged in registry with said slot for preventing rotation of said second section within said first section, there being a plurality of spaced openings in said second section. a manually operable clamping lever having an L shape pivotally mounted for movement into and out of said openings for locking said section in its adjusted positions, a pair of lugs projecting from said first section, a pin pivotally connecting said lever to said pair of lugs, resilient means embodying a spring circumposed on said pin for normally biasing said clamping lever into engagement with one of said openings, a third tubular section having less diameter than said second section telescopically arranged within said second section, manually operable means embodying a lever for releasably locking said third section in its adjusted positions, means for preventing relative rotation of said third section within said second section, a shank telescopically arranged within said third section, means forpreventing rotation of said shank relative to said third section, and a coil spring positioned in said CHARLES OTIS BROWN. EDITH MARIE BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 916,413 Biedermann Mar. 20, 1909 1,130,497 Dunham Mar. 2, 1915 1,887,233 Condos Nov. 8, 1932 

